Spark arrester



Nuev. l2, w35.

C. M. ROGERS Y SPARK ARRESTER Filed Sept. 22, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Nov. 12,- 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,020,378 SPARK ARRESTER' poration of Delaware Application September 22, 1933, Serial No. 690,507

'z claims. (c1. 23o-97) This invention relates to improvements in spark arresters and it consists of the matters hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

The spark arresters with which my invention Vis more particularly concerned include means providing a centrifugal separator chamber. To

operate eiciently, said chamber must have an inlet properly proportioned with respect to the 1 flue area opening into the smoke box. I-Iowever,V

the space left in the smoke box by reason of the location of the necessary steam pipes, superheater and other parts, is often too small to accommodate a spark arrester having the capacity required for the locomotive.

Under such conditions, the installation of a spark arrester of suflicient capacity, requires certain changes in the associated parts of the locomotive. In some instances, thesmoke box Vmust be lengthened forwardly Vand in other instances, the stack requires moving forwardly. Again, at times it is necessary to provide an exhaust pipe or nozzle having an offset end in lieu of the existing one. 'I'hese Vchanges entail considerable expense for parts and labor and greatly increase the cost of installation. This it is desired to avoid.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide alspark arrester of ample capacity, which may be readily installed in a relatively small space, and has its parts so formed and arranged as to provide suflicient capacity as Well as an inlet of an area equal to or greater than that of the flues opening into the smoke box.

A further object of the invention is to provide an arrester including a casing providing the main separator chamber and parts coasting therewith and with the smoke box shell in providing an auxiliary separator chamber that communicates with the main separator chamber, both chambers having a common inlet in which is provided means initiating a whirling of the gases and cinders entering both chambers through said inlet.

The above mentioned objects of the invention, as Well as others, together with the many advantages thereof, will more fully appear as I proceed with my specification.

In the drawings: p

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal vertical sectional View through a locomotive front end provided withV a spark arrester embodying one form of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section therethrough as taken on the lin@ Z-Z Of Fig. 1;

.tip I2 is secured.

Fig. 3 is 'a longitudinal horizontal sectional view through thesame as taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1; and v Fig. 4 is'a transverse vertical sectional view through the arrester and associated parts as taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

In general, my improved arrester includes an upright casing arranged in the smoke' box and enclosing portions of the stack and nozzle. Parts are arranged in the smoke box shell to coact therewith and with the casing to provide an auxiliary separator chamber above, but in communication with the main separator chamber as provided by the said casing. A common inlet is provided at the front, for both chambers so that both chambers are influenced by the draft action of the blast up the stack. With such an arrangement, a part of the shell itself in which certain steam pipes and other locomotive parts are located and heretofore not available for other purposes, is made to function as a part of the separator chamber of the arrester. Thus an arrester of sufficient capacity is obtained without requiring expensive alterations in the locomotive front end structure to accommodate the same.

Referring now in detail to that embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings:

I indicates as a whole the shell `of a locomotive boiler, 2 indicates the smoke box shell and 3 indicates the front flue or tube sheet of the boiler in which the front ends of the tubes or flues 4 are secured in the customary manner. The open front of the shell 2 is closed by the usual front end and door 5. In the rear portion of the smoke box is located a header E to which superheater tubes l, arranged in certain of the flues or tubes 4 of the boiler, are operatively connected.

Also located inthe smoke box, at each side near the top are the usual elbows 3 which are connected to the superheater header 6 and the curved pipes IIJ that follow down about each side of the smoke box shell to lead to the associated cylinders, not shown.

I I indicates the exhaust pipe having a flanged top to Vwhich the flanged bottom of the nozzle or I3 indicates the smoke stack arranged axially of the nozzle or tip and secured to the bottom' end of said stack is an extension I4 having a ared bottom I5.

I6 indicates as a whole van arrester casing arranged in the smoke box to constitute the main separator chamber of the arrester and which is of such a transverse width as to leave a space between each side thereof and the smoke box shell for the passage of the steam pipes I0. This casing, which is open at the front and the greater part of its top, includes an upright side wall having an arcuate rear portion I'I, an arcuate side portion I8 and a straight side portion I9 so as to leave an inlet opening 20 for the casing at the front thereof. The axis of the casing portions II and I 8 may be offset forwardly of the plane of the axis of the stack and nozzle respectively.

2I indicates the flat horizontal bottom wall of the casing which is of a plan contour fitting the upright wall of the casing. This bottom wall has a portion arranged and clamped between the adjacent flanges of the nozzle and tip respectively and rising from said wa'll, concentric with the tip, is a race ring 22. Following about the top end of the upright wall of the casing is an angle bar stiffener ring 23. v

Extending transversely across the smoke box shell, a suitable distance rearwardly of the stack extension I4, is a rear baille wall 24. This wall follows the top part of the shell 2 and terminates at its bottom end in a plane of the top edge of the arrester casing, Said wall is preferably made in side and central sections 25 and 26 respectively and'which sections meet edge to edge in planes radial with respect to pipe portions connecting the elbows 8 with the superheater header as best shown in Fig. 4. In the central section of this wall is a door 2I whereby access may be had to the shell 2 rearwardly of said wall for inspection purposes. A top wall portion 28 is provided for that part of the casing I6 rearwardly of the baille wall 24 to close off that part of the top of the casing.

In the plane of the open front or inlet of the casing at each side thereof is provided a baille plate 29 and 30 respectively. Said baille plates extend upwardly from the bottom of the casing to a point above the plane of the top of the casing as provided by the wall 28 previously mentioned. The top ends of said plates may be connected together by a transverse top baffle plate 3|, and all of said plates are xed to a ring 32 on the inside of the shell 2. The baille plates just mentioned, together with the baille plate 24 in connection with the intervening part of the shell 2, coact to form an auxiliary separator chamber 33 above, but in communication with that part of the main separator chamber forward of the plate 24.

The baille plates 29, 30 and 3| coact to form an inlet 34, common to both separator chambers mentioned. With such an arrangement, it is possible to provide an arrester inlet having an area exceeding that of the flues ends 4 in the flue sheet 3. In said inlet 34 toward the side I8 of the casing are provided laterally spaced deflectors 35 which extend from the' top to the bottom of the inlet. These deflectors in connection with another deflector plate 36 arranged between the baille 29 and end of the casing wall part I8, act to direct the incoming gases and cinders toward the straight wall side I9 of the casing.

Along each side of the casing, extending from the front to the rear and arranged substantially in the horizontal plane of the top of the casing, are horizontal wall parts or shelf plates 3'I and 38 respectively. In each shelf plate is provided an opening 39 and associated closure for the passage therethrough of the steam pipes I0. Y

Also associated with each shelf plate 31-38 is an inward extension 40 or 4I respectively, both of which are inclined upwardly toward the stack extension to terminate short thereof, The extension 40 has a lesser length longitudinally of the smoke box shell than the extension 4I as best shown in Fig. 3 to leave an opening 42 of a somewhat irregular outline by which the auxiliary separator chamber 33 communicates with the 5 main separator chamber as provided by the casing I6.

In the operation of the arrester, the gases and cinders as they enter the smoke box must pass downwardly and under the casing I6 before they 10 can enter the inlet 34 to both chambers. Due to deflector plates 35-36, in connection with the draft action as produced by the nozzle and stack,

a whirling action is initiated for the gases and cinders entering the said common inlet. l5 As the products of combustion, sparks, cinders,

etc. enter the upper or auxiliary separator chamber of the spark arrester and pass in a sweeping path toward the rear, there might normally be a tendency for them to sweep downwardly into 20 the main separator chamber without passing around the rear side of the stack extension. It will be noted that there is but a relatively narrow throat or space between the rear portion of the stack extension and the wall 24 as best shown in 25 Fig. 3. Thus if the auxiliary and main separator chambers of the spark arrester were in wide open communication vertically, that volume of the products of combustion originally entering the upper auxiliary separator chamber might be 30 quickly deflected and caused to move immediately into the lower main separator chamber of the arrester with the attending danger of passing out of the stack before the sparks could be reduced in size or extinguished. By providing the two 35 members 40 and 4I which substantially divide the spark arrester into upper and lower chambers the products of combustion entering the upper chamber are prevented from taking an immediate sweep downwardly into the main separator charnlio ber. In this way, a suflicient time element is provided for the cooling or extinguishing of the products of combustion before they can possibly be discharged through the stack.

Also some of the heavier particles as they enter 45 the auxiliary chamber and whirl, by chance may impinge against the steam pipe'IO and its elbow above the shelf plates 31-38. Such particles will immediately fall upon the extensions 40 and 4I to sooner or later be caused to move off said 50 plates by draft action and to enter the main' separator chamber through the connecting opening 42. Thus such large sparks ory cinders are not only given time to cool off to harmless tem perature but they are also prevented from immediately dropping into the main separator chamber after impinging upon said pipes and elbows. T'hus they cannot be entrained up the stack while in a condition capable of starting wayside fires. G0

Such gases and cinders as enter the main separator chamber are caused to whirl in a circular path about the inside of the casing so that they are broken up into ner and cooled ofi particles which are entrained by draft action for 65 passage up the stack for a harmless discharge.

By the construction described it is apparent that space in the smoke box shell heretofore unused for spark arresting purposes, is made to function as an auxiliary separator chamber that T0 is in communication with the main separator chamber so as to form in effect, an enlargement for the main separator chamber.

By making use of smoke box shell space, heretofore unused for separator purposes, I am en- 75 abled to provide an arrester, which requires no expensive alterations of the locomotive parts in the smoke box and at the same time to provide separator chamber space and inlet therefor having a capacity insuring efficient locomotive operation. Again, with the arrangement described, the casing may be of such size as to be easily assemblecl through the open front of the smoke box and at the same time leave ample space for steam pipes and the like without requiring any change therein.

While in describing the invention, I have re ferred in detail to the form, arrangement and construction of the various parts thereof, the same is to be considered only in the illustrative sense so that I do not wish to be limited thereto except as may be specifically set forth in the appended claims.

I` claim as my invention:

1. In combination with a locomotive smoke box shell and associated smoke Vstack and exhaust nozzle, a sheet at the rear end of the smoke box shell and having iiues opening therethrough, an arrester casing in said shell and enclosing portions of both the stack and nozzleand providing a main separator chamber, means providing an auxiliary separator chamber in the shell above but in communication with the main separator chamber, and means in communication with said iiues and providing an inlet for combustion gases from said flues into both chambers and including parts arranged to initiate a whirling of the said gases and cinders therein entering said chambers therethrough, said inlet having an area substantially greater than that of the flues opening through said sheet.

2. In combination with a locomotive smoke box shell and associated smoke stack and nozzle iiues opening into said shell, an arrester casing in the shell and enclosing portions of both the stack and nozzle and providing a main separator chamber, means providing an auxiliary chamber in the shell above said casing and communicating with'the central portionrof the main separator `chamber by an openingarranged about a part of the smoke stack, and means in communication with said flues and providing an inlet for combustion gases from said flues into both chambers and including parts arranged to initiate a whirling of said gases and the cinders therein entering said chambers therethrough.

3. In combination with a locomotive smoke box shell and associated smoke stack and nozzle lues opening into said shell, an arrester casing in said shell and enclosing portions of both the stack and nozzle and providing a main separator chamber, means providing an auxiliary chamber above thecasing, means closing off the bottom of said auxiliary chamber to each side of the stack and so formed as to provide a communication between said chambers adjacent the stack, and

means in communication with said ilues andl providing an inlet for combustion gases from said flues into both chambers and including parts arranged to initiate a whirling of said gases and the cinders therein entering said chambers therethrough.

4. In combination with a locomotive smoke box shell and associated smoke stack and nozzle, an arrester casing in said shell and'enclosing portions of both the stack and nozzle and providing a main separator chamber, means providing an auxiliary chamber above the casing, means arranged between said chambers and terminating short of the smoke stack to provide a communieating opening between said chambers and surrounding the stack, means providing an inlet for both chambers and arranged to initiate a whirling of the gases and cinders entering said chambers therethrough, and means in said auxiliary chamber against which a portion of the gases and cinders entering said auxiliary chamber engage before passing through said communicating opening so that the cinders are ingshort of the bottom of said shell to leave a i passageway to that part of the shell forwardly of said second baffle, means extending inwardly from each side of the shell in the plane of the top of the casing to dene an auxiliary separator chamber communicating with said main chamber, said second baie plate having an opening therein providing an inlet for both chambers, and means associated with said opening for initiating a whirling of the gases and cinders entering said chambers through the inlet.

6. In combination with a locomotive smoke-box shell and associated stack and exhaust nozzle, front and rear baffle members in the top of the smoke box shell, there being an opening in the front baiile' member, means providing a horizontal wall having an opening therein through which the stack extends and which wall coacts with said baule members and associated part of the smoke box shell respectively to dene a separator chamber of rectangular shape when viewed Lx from above, a casing having an opening in the front, arranged below said wall and spaced from the sides of the shell and providing a second separator chamber enclosing parts of the stack and nozzle and in communication with the first mentioned chamber by means of said opening in said horizontal wall, said second chamber when viewed from above being substantially cylindrical, said openings in said baille member and in said casing respectively providing the innlets for said chambers, and means in said -inlets for initiating a whirling of the products of combustion as they enter said chambers Vthrough said inlets.

'7. In combination with a loco-motive smoke box shell and associated stack and exhaust nozzle,

front and rear baiile members in the top of the smoke box shell, means providing a horizontal wall having an opening therein through which the stack extends and which wall coacts with said baffle members and associated part of the smoke box shell respectively to define a separator chamber of rectangular shape when viewed from above, means arranged in each side of said charnber and against which portions of the products of combustion entering said auxiliary chamber engage to be broken up thereby, said casing providing a second chamber enclosing parts of the stack and nozzle and in communication with the first mentioned chamber by means of said opening and which chamber when viewed from above is substantially cylindrical, there being an opening at the front of each chamber providing an inlet therefor, and means in said inlets for initiating a whirling of the products of combustion entering said chambers through said inlets.

CECIL M. ROGERS. 

